Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

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Christina Simeone is a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program. She is also the former director of policy and external affairs at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. While at the Kleinman Center, Christina engaged in applied research—bringing together analytics, academics, and industry insights—to further the center's mission.

Prior to joining the Kleinman Center, Simeone served as the director of the PennFuture Energy Center for Enterprise and the Environment, where she focused on energy and climate issues that impact Pennsylvania. Simeone worked on federal energy and climate legislation as policy director at the Alliance for Climate Protection in Washington, D.C., after spending several years in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), where she worked on climate and energy issues in the Policy Office and as special assistant to the secretary. Additionally, she has experience in private environmental consulting and in the financial management sector.

Simeone holds a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in economics from the University of Miami, and B.S. in music industry from Drexel University (with a concentration in opera and piano performance). She is a board member of Philadelphia's Sustainable Energy Fund, former chair of the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the PA DEP, and former co-chair to Governor Wolf's transition team for the PA DEP.

is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

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is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Is it just me, or have others in the downtown Philadelphia area noticed the recent uptick in oil trains cruising through the City?

Last summer, several rail shipments per day of 100 or so crude oil tanker-cars each could be seen chugging through the City, many bound for the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in southwest Philadelphia or the Monroe Energy refinery in Delaware County.

PES’s SEC filing states its refineries process light sweet crudes predominantly from North Dakota, Texas, West Africa and Canada.

So what changed?

Global, unplanned oil supply disruptions averaged more than 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2016, the highest monthly level ever recorded by the U.S. Energy Information Administration since January 2011.

The disruptions were mainly attributed to wildfires in Alberta, Canada that reduced tar sand-based oil production (a heavy crude) by an average of 0.8 million bpd in May, followed by ongoing unrest in Nigeria. Nigerian militants have been targeting attacks on oil and gas infrastructure due to political tensions, reducing Nigerian oil production to an average of 1.4 million bpd in May (its lowest level since the late 1980’s) and increasing supply disruptions to an average of 0.5 million bpd.

Since PES and Monroe have recently been relying on imports of West African (e.g. Nigeria and Angola) crude, the Nigerian light-sweet crude supply disruptions may be forcing a return to domestic crude and rail transport.

The U.S. EIA predicts Nigeria’s supply disruptions to stay high through 2017.

The global supply disruptions, coupled with reduced domestic production, have combined to incrementally increase oil prices, with both the West Texas Intermediary (WTI) and Brent crude prices showing an uptick in early June.

So Nigerian supply is dropping (i.e. more expensive) making U.S. supply more attractive. Hence, the rail cars could be making a comeback. How much of a comeback will depend on the duration of Nigerian disruption, comparative economics, geopolitics, and more. Drilling activity and oil produced in North Dakota dropped from March to April, but I suspect the May data will show a slight turn around.

Christina Simeone is a senior fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a doctoral student in advanced energy systems at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a joint program.

Our blog highlights the research, opinions, and insights of individual authors. It does not represent the voice of the Kleinman Center.